The Deception That Is The Term, "Fat-Shaming"

If your loved one were abusing drugs, few people would fault you for initiating a conversation with him or her about the drugs they are intentionally putting into their bodies which might include warnings about the negative effects that such behavior is having on their health, safety, personal relationships, career, and social standing. Recognizing and cautioning your loved one over the undeniable self-destructiveness that is drug abuse would be applauded by most. Referring your loved one to a Narcotics Anonymous meeting would be interpreted as a caring and bold gesture. 

If your loved one were abusing alcohol, it’s almost a given that s/he also drives drunk. Few people would fault you for initiating a conversation about the excessive alcohol they are intentionally putting into their bodies which might include warnings about the negative effects that such behavior is having on their health, safety, personal relationships, career, and social standing. Recognizing and cautioning your loved one over the undeniable self-destructiveness that is alcohol abuse would be applauded by most. Referring your loved one to an Alcoholics Anonymous meeting would be interpreted as a caring and bold gesture.

But if your loved one is obese, initiating a conversation about the excessive food they are intentionally putting into their bodies which might include warnings about the negative effects that is having on their health, safety, personal relationships, career, and social standing has been labeled with the reactionary term “fat-shaming.” Recognizing and cautioning your loved one over the undeniable self-destructiveness that is uncontrolled over-eating would be condemned by most. Referring your loved one to an Overeaters Anonymous meeting would be interpreted as an intrusive and insulting gesture.

Claiming that the uncontrolled cramming of food down one’s throat to the point of creating an actual physical handicap is somehow different from other uncontrolled self-destructive behaviors is so wrong and so cruelly enabling as to be preposterous. The mechanism that triggers the seeking of solace by way of drugs, alcohol or uncontrolled eating is identical.

The politically-correct, thin-skinned, easily-offended, perpetually-outraged, illogical people who single out obesity as requiring an entirely separate “understanding” need to be stopped in their tracks. It requires a certain level of courage to recognize one’s problem, decide the problem needs to be resolved, and ultimately seek treatment for that problem. The reason we value, elevate, and celebrate courage in our society is because it is so rare.

Unfortunately, blaming someone or something else other than ourselves for our problems is society’s accepted norm.